Combined animal-like figure and lamp



y 1951 F. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,560,191

COMBINED ANIMAL-LIKE FIGURE AND LAMP Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTOR FAY SCHWART ABE PLACHTER.

ip H.

W 9 ATTORNEY Patented July 10, 1951 COMBINED IMAL-LIKE FIGURE AND LAMP Fay Schwartz and Abe Plach'ter, New York, N. Y. Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,408

2 Claims. (01. 240-) This invention relates to toys, figures and lamps and combinations thereof, and the methods of making the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel form of illuminating device including a major upright lamp support element extending out of a resiliently supported animal-like figure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel illuminating device the lamp of which is threadedly received in a socket member carried on the uppermost end portion of an upright stanchion penetrated axially by electrically conductive lead wires connectable to a source of electric current for causing the lamp to become luminous, and novel stanchion support means engaging a lower portion of said upright stanchion is such fashion as to support the same in elevated relation to the ground or floor, and which includes an animal-like torso formed of non-metallic material penetrated by said novel stanchion support means in mutually fixed relationship, and characterized by extreme resistance against turning motion of said stanchion in relation to said animal-like torso.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination lamp and unusual integral support means therefor, with resilent mounting means for said support means, whereby shocks to the luminescent element are avoided to prevent destruction thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provides novel and improved animal-like figure with integrally mounted luminaire supporting means extending loftily from and out of the torso thereof and means blocking rotation or turning motion of said luminaire supporting means in relation to said torso, with covering means carried by said luminaire supporting means to provide dual protection both for said animal-like figure and for directing and regulating the direction of permissible light ray incidence upon surrounding objects and planar surfaces.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of the character described, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, simple and easy to assemble and disassemble, safe in use, and highly effective and efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of our novel and improved device as seen in completely as- Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view;

. taken on plane 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially on plane 4-4 of Figure 2.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention and. the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawmgs.

The device includes a major member In having the outward appearance of a toy animal-like figure, the illustrations showing as an example, a figure having some resemblance to a toy horse, with atorso or body- I2 having an outer covering layer H of suitable fabric or other flexible ma-- terial in sheet form. The body i2 may preferably have a rounded contour in the vertical plane perpendicular to that of the view of Figure .1, and will be stufi'ed with any suitable fibrous material I 6, including for example, cotton fibres, straw, .excelsior, or other well known materials. The figure 10 has a pair of spaced front legs I8, depending from the main body or torso l2 and integral therewith, being also filled with the stuffing material I 6 as shown in Figure 1, to maintain their general contour, though having a certain degree of resilience, the legs 18 being closed at the bottom 20 to simulate feet, orhooves of the animal.

The torso is also provided with depending integral rear legs 12.2, two such legs being provided, and being stuffed with stuffing material just like the front legs I 8, and closed at the bottom to simulate hooves 24. A tail member 26 may be conveniently formed of a sing-1e piece of sheet fabric or felt, folded partly as at 28 and inserted through an opening or seam formed in the rearward end surface of the torso, being secured therein by any suitable means such as stitching, or otherwise. The rounded fold on line 28 causes the tail to assume the general shape of a-channel, and hence maintains its arched position, terminating in a plurality of integral fringes 30 giving the entire tail a lifelike appearance.

The neck 32 projects forwardly upwards as shown, being secured to the torso along stitching line 34 and being also filled with stuffing ma-' terial Hi just like the legs and torso to maintain its rounded contour and .resilience. The neck 32 merges smoothly into the junction with the head 36, being stuffed with material I6 in common therewith. The head has a piece of fabric 38 projecting out of the upper surface of the neck 32 as shown, being formed of felt or other suitable material, and cut into resiliently upstanding fringes 49 along its outer margin, to simulate a life-like animal mane. A pair of ears 42 may be conveniently formed of felt or other suitable fabric, being folded partially as at 44 atwhich they are inserted into openings formed in the head and secured therein by stitching or other suitable fastening means, in resiliently upstanding fashion.

A pair of toy eyes 46 are secured to each side of the forward portion of the head 36, the eyes comprising preferably transparent housings with movable pupils 48 disposed therein. Protective shield members 59 are disposed in underlying position relative to each ofthe eyes 46 as shown. A bridle formed of straps such as 52, 54 and 56, is disposedin engagement about thehead of the animal-like figure, the straps 52 and 54 being interconnected pivotally by rivets 58, and the strap 56 passing through a loop 69 formed by bending back the ends of strap 54 and securing each such strap end by means of rivets 62, a metallic eye loop 64 depending from and engaging the loop 69 also as shown. A rein strap 66 has its ends folded back and secured by rivets 68 in engagement with the loops 64, and extends rearwardly alongthe sides and flanks of the animallike figure extending there-across as at I9 from one flank to the other.

An opening or vertical bore is formed right through the torso as at I2, between its upper and lower surfaces I4 and I6 and penetrating also the stufiing material I6 disposedtherein. A lower bezel member 18 having upturned flanges I9, forming a hollow cup-like area, is pressed upwardly into the belly, portion of the torso in the manner shown, the fabric covering material I4 being received within the hollow cup-like area and penetrated substantially by the upstanding sharp tongues or prongs 89 which are integral with the lower bezel member I8. These tongues 89 engage securely with the fabric I4 and the underlying stuffing material adjacent thereto, shown at I6, so as to aid in blocking rotational motion of the bezel about its axis.

A fluted sleeve member 82 having an axial bore 84, is secured at its lower end concentrically upon the upper face of the lower bezel member I8, so as to overlie the opening 86 inthe bezel, as by welding or soldering at 88. The tube 82 has external longitudinal ribs or flutings'99 projecting radially from its outer surface along its entire length, these having substantial radial extent so as to effect radial penetration into the stuffing material I6 sufficiently to block any tendency toward rotational motion of the sleeve 82 within the stufiing material.

The tube 82 extends against the lower surface of the upper bezel member 92, which is similar to the lower bezel I8, except that the upper bezel member may have its depending tongues or prongs omitted if desired, although they are preferred to block rotation thereof. A hollow tube or pipe 94 extends upwardly from a coupling 96 threaded thereon, and has an extension 98 extending downwardly from the coupling 96, through the axial bore of the upper bezel member 92, and down through the inner coupling member I99 inside the fluted tube 82. A further extension tube I92 is threaded into the coupling member I99 and extends downwardly therefrom inside the fluted tube 82, projecting downwardly beyond the lower bezel, a nut I94 being threaded on its lower end to draw the entire assembly securely together as shown, in relation to the torso.

An electrical cord or wires I96 extends through the aligned pipes including 94, as shown, and upwardly into connection with the socket I98 mounted on the upper end of the pipe 94. A lamp bulb I I9 is threadedinto the socket I98, and may be illuminated by pushing the button I I2 as desired, upon insertion of the plug I I4 intov a suitable electrical outlet.

A lampshade I I6 having a wire frame support II 8, has its depending wire loops I29 extending downwardly in embracing relationship about the lamp bulb II9, so as to support the lampshade IIB thereon, to shield the light rays cast by the bulb I I0. It is seen that the shade regulates the illumination cast upon the animal-like figure I9, so as to give the same a lifelike appearance.

The unique construction of the torso and its supporting legs, with their inherent resilience, provide a high degree of resilient support for the upstanding standard 94 and the lamp bulb s'up ported in its socket. This protects the delicate bulb filaments from jarring as a result of motion of the device at all times, and will effectively prevent any damage to the lamp as a result thereof. Similarly, when lifting the device and replacing it in the same or other position, it is not necessary to use care in moving the same for fear of jarring the lamp bulb, since that is eliminated due to the resilience of the support as described. Due to the fiutings in the tube 82 penetrating the torso, it is unnecessary to take up the nut I94 tightly, so that there is no undue compression or flattening out of the animal torso which would otherwise result, the flutings preventing any turning of the parts in the torso.

Although we have described our invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. An animal-like figure comprising a plural ity of ground-engaging legs constructed and arranged for inherent resiliency, a torso interconnecting the upper ends of said legs so as'to be resiliently supported above said ground surface, and having an animal-like head and tail carried by said torso, stufling material of yield able nature filling said torso, legs and head, with a first bore formed through said torso, a main tube extending through said first bore between the back and belly surfaces of said torso, a plurality of radially extending fiutings and ribs carried by said main tube and immovable relative thereto, said radially extending flutings extending radially into the mass of said stuffing material surrounding said first bore, and constructed and arranged for receiving portions of said stuffing material between adjacent flut'ings or ribs so as to engage the mass of stufling material firmly to block turning motion of said fluted tube relative to said mass of stumng material and said torso filled thereby, a lower bezel having an axial aperture and secured immovably to said fluted tube with its axial aperture in registry with the bore of said fluted tube, an upper bezel having an axial aperture and disposed upon the back surface of said animal-like torso with its axial aperture in registry with the upper end of the bore of said fluted tube, a fir'st standard having an axial bore and penetrating said fluted tube. and

said two bezels, means securing said first standard to said assembled fluted tube and bezels so as to be relatively stationary with respect to said animal-like torso, socket means carried by said first standard to receive a source of illumination such as a lamp bulb and the like, light ray directing and controlling means acting upon the light cast by said lamp bulb for regulating the illumination thereby of said animal-like figure and the surrounding surfaoesL said first standard, bezels, fluted tube being so constructed and arranged as to render the animal-like torso substantially free from any distorting compression.

2. The construction according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said bezels is provided with inwardly projecting prongs engaging into the skin of said torso adjacent thereto.

FAY SCHWARTZ. ABE PLACHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 151,817 Gifford Nov. 23, 1948 1,405,674 'Eckhart Feb. 7, 1922 1,877,940 Morgenstern et a1. Sept. 20, 1932 15 2,204,508 Matthies June 11, 1940 2,445,079 Petersdorf July 13, 1948 

